Bears HC Ben Johnson reportedly eyeing a reunion with a former player who would bring much needed depth at a key offensive position
The Chicago Bears' offseason plan was clear as day after hearing from general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson at the 2025 Combine.This team plans to aggressively attack the offseason to fill the needs on the roster well before the 2025 NFL Draft in April.That plan already got kickstarted when the Bears made […]
The Chicago Bears' offseason plan was clear as day after hearing from general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson at the 2025 Combine.
This team plans to aggressively attack the offseason to fill the needs on the roster well before the 2025 NFL Draft in April.
That plan already got kickstarted when the Bears made two trades to land offensive guards Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney, filling two of the three needs up-front. When free agency opens next week, the Bears still have over $50 million in cap space to attack the remaining needs on the roster.
The top of those needs include finding a starting center, a starting defensive end, a #3 wide receiver, and depth at the tight end position. As far as the tight end position goes, Poles laid out why the position is so critical when having a young quarterback.
“Usually with a young quarterback, tight ends are able to have a lot of production," Poles explained at the Combine. "Making sure those guys are lined up, have the chemistry, seeing things the same thing. I believe from [Ben Johnson's] past, that should be able to take off pretty good.”
Did you catch that? The main point from that phrase was utilizing Ben Johnson's past to allow that position to take off. Even though the Bears retained tight end coach Jim Dray, Johnson will have a strong hand in the room given his background.
Johnson's NFL coaching career started with the Miami Dolphins working with the quarterbacks and eventually helping with the tight ends and wide receivers. With the Detroit Lions, Johnson spent two seasons as the tight ends coach there as well.
During Johnson's time in Miami, he overlapped with a veteran tight end who recently hit the market and reports suggest Johnson might be interested in a reunion.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Bears are targeting tight end Durham Smythe, who overlapped with Johnson during his rookie season 2018. Smythe was released by the Dolphins on February 14th. Since he was released, the Bears don't have to wait until free agency opens to sign him, so this move could happen quick.
Smythe hasn't had the most productive career as far as being a pass catcher. In seven seasons, he's only totaled 132 receptions for 1,228 yards and three touchdowns. Luckily, Smythe will just be a veteran presence behind Cole Kmet.
Last year, the Bears made a similar signing by adding Gerald Everett, who had history with former offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. This would be a similar move, adding some depth to the room with someone Johnson trusts from his past.
Bears 2025 Mock Offseason: Predicting the team’s free agent signings, trades, and draft picks after what we learned at the NFL Combine
Chicago will be aggressive this offseason.
